Clam-shell bucket.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.-

J. G. SLOGUM. OLAM SHELL BUCKET. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WE NQHM PETER; cc, mew umq, WASHINGTON, a r,

UNITED STATES.

Patented August 18, 1903..

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. SLOOUM, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SLAM-SHELL BUCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 736,796, dated August 18, 1903.

Application filed May 20,1903. Serial NO- 157,931. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. SLooUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Olam-Shel1Buckets,ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a partial central vertical section.

In the drawings a framework is shown having side bars or plates AA, and these. may be braced or joined together in any suitable way.

B B indicate the buckets or scoops. Each of these is supported at each end by a set of them for an understanding of all.

devices, and as the parts of each of the four sets are substantially similar to those of the others attention can be directed 'to one of Each bucket is suspended by two arms or links, one at the front end, as shown at O, and one at the rear or heel'end, as shown at H. The front link is pivoted to the forward part of the bucket, as shown at c, and the heel-link or arm is pivoted to the outer end of the bucket at 72. At the upper end the front arm or link 0 is connected to a cross-shaft D, which extends to the opposite side of the frame and is there similarly connected to the opposite arm, O, and the upper end of the arm or link H is connected to a shaft U, which extends across to the companion arm or link. Both of these arms or links O and H are bodily movable as well as rotary and move in unison. They are connected together by a bar or link I, and the structure or frame thus formed is supported by means of one or more antifriction-rollers G G, which rest upon the track or support at 9. To effect the bodily movement of these bucket-supports, use is preferably made of a pinion and rack. As shown in the drawings, the pinion is secured to the arm H or to the shaft U, this pinion being indicated atE. At F there is a rack above the pinion securedto the frame. As the arm'H swings outward and upward on the one hand or downward and inward on the other it is compelled by the pinion and rack to also move bodily, first outward and then inward, the pinion rolling back and forth in the rack and the rollers G permitting free movement, and as the link I connects the arm H to the arm O and the shaft U to the shaft D the latter shaft and its arm G will also be moved bodily out and in. The link or arm 0 and its companion are connected by a shaft K, upon which there isa rope-wheel N. The other bucket B has as one of its adjuncts a shaft K, similar to the shaft K and carrying one or more rope-wheels N.

O is the power-rope. Its lower end is fastened to the shaft K. It extends thence around the periphery of the wheel or sheave N, then back to the wheel N, and then up to the guide P, and from the latter point to the place of suspension.

Q is an opening-rope. Its lower end is fastened to a sheave or wheel R, which is connected to the shaft U, the rope extending from this wheel to the guide wheel or sheave at S.

As before stated, there is for each bucket and at each side of the mechanism a set of the above-described parts-that is to say, a front or foe arm 0, a heel link or arm H, a connecting bar or link I, a pinion E, a rack F, and an opening-rope Q-and, as has been noted, the other bucket is provided with corresponding parts, such as the-front or toe arms O, heel arms or links H, connecting bars or links I, pinions E, racks F, and opening-rope Q.

When it is desired to discharge the contents of the buckets or to bring them to their open positions, it is done by relieving the ropes O of strain and suspending the mechanism by the ropes Q Q. This causes the sheaves or wheels R R to rotate, and they in turn cause the heel arms or links to revolve, together with the pinions E E. As the latter revolve they move bodily outward along the racks and'also carry outward the links H and G of one bucket and H and O of the other. When the buckets or scoops are to be closed, the weight of the mechanism is allowed to exert itself upon the rope O. This immediately tends to swing the arms O O inward at their lower end, some of the force being exerted in swinging the forward ends of the buckets downward and some in thrusting the arms 0 C bodily toward the center. Both these stresses unite in effecting a rotation of the pinions E E, which rotation compels the arms H H to swing rapidly outward and downward, and at the same time, through the action of the rack and pinions, the links H H O O and the bucket suspended by them are moved bodily inward toward the centerthat is, toward the closing position of the buckets. The suspending devices for the buckets being thus not only vertically vibratable, but also bodily movable, they can travel forward with the buckets as they approach their closed positions, and consequently power is applied with much greater economy than is the case Where either the heel-supports or the front supports are suspended upon fixed axes. This movement bodily of the'suspending devices and the dispensing with fixed pivots enables me to shorten the structure vertically in contrast with those heretofore proposed, which have had elongated links at the front ends of the buckets. Such long links have been necessary when held on fixed axes in order thata path of reduced curvature be provided for the toe of the buckets. It is Well known that it is desired to shorten the structures vertically, and this I can attain by constructing and relating the parts in the way described.

What I claim is- 1. The combination oftheframe,thebucket, the depending link for the front end of the bucket, the link or arm for the rear end of the bucket, the pinion connected with the said arm, and the rack on the frame engaging with the said pinion whereby the arm for the bucket-heel is moved bodily inward with the bucket, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame, the bucket,-

the depending link supporting the front end of the bucket, the swinging arm supporting the rear end of the bucket, the pinion connected with the said arm, the rack engaging with the pinion, and the power devices connected to the front bucket-supporting arm, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the frame, the bucket, the arm supporting the front end of the bucket, the arm supporting the rear end of the bucket, the pinion connected with the arm, the rack engaging with the pinion, the

opening-rope adapted to apply power at the axis of the pinion, and the power devices connected to the front bucket-arm, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination ofthe frame,the bucket,

the two arms or links pivotally connected to the bucket, and both movable bodily at their upper ends in relation to the frame, the pinion connected to the outer arm, the rack engaging with the pinion, and the power devices connected with the inner arm or link, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the frame,the bucket, means for supporting the outer end or heel of the bucket, the vertically-swinging arm or link supporting the inner end of the bucket and adapted to move bodily inward and outward, the closing-rope and the rope-Wheel supported on the arm at the front of the bucket, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the frame,the bucket, the two depending,vertically-vibratable arms or links one at the front end of the bucket, and one at the rear end, means for connecting together the upper parts of the said arms or links, devices on the frame adapted to move the said links bodily inward and outward,'substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the frame,the bucket, the arm or link at the front end of the bucket, the arm or link at the rear end of the bucket, the bodily-movable carrier or support for the upper parts of the arms, and means on the main frame for causing said carrier to move inward and outward with the bucket, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the frame, two oppositely-moving buckets, two sets of bodily-movable supporting devices, one set for the outer end of each bucket, two bodilymovable supporting devices, one for the inner end of each bucket, a closing-rope and rope attaching and guiding devices partly supported on one inner bucket-s11 pporting device and partly supported on the other inner bucket-supporting device, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. SLOOUM.

Witnesses:

H. C. ORoss, S. M. CoLwELL. 

